Direct Support

Latest Episodes:

10. Briston Maroney Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

Such an honor to have Tennesseean, Briston Maroney with us this week! Briston is an unbelievable songwriter with a super powerful voice, both literally and with his writing. But that doesn't mean we don't get goofy in this episode. We discuss everything from our love for sports films (even though we aren't athletes) to his comedic side project, Briston Maroney But Different. We go on to share a dirty little secret about Wilco, what it's like to collaborate freely and openly, and the fear of entering a VR-based universe. When we finally get serious we talk about the silver lining in this quarantine, his experience having toured for 8 months of last year, and going viral on TikTok. Lastly, we talk about his brief stint on American Idol when he was a teen, signing to Atlantic Records and the pitfalls of wearing your own merch. Enjoy!

Briston Maroney

Songs Performed: "Fool's Gold" / "Freakin' Out on the Interstate"

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

Instagram: @directsupportpod

Twitter: @dswithps

And check out my band's new single! "Ellenda" by Arms Akimbo

9. Beauty Queen Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to episode 8 with Katie Kai AKA Beauty Queen! She's a killer songwriter and it was an awesome opportunity to basically do a post-show rundown with her since this was right after the sold-out Echo show she played with Runnner. We discuss what it was like for her to work with the band Tennis as producers for her latest releases and the desire to make rock n' roll more theatrical. Katie runs me down her history of living in Maui, Baltimore, SF, Oakland and now LA. After we talk odd jobs (including an incident where she was a guinea pig for Fitbit) my roommate and sister crash the party and she plays us a track on piano!

Beauty Queen

Song Featured: "Sweet Memory"

Song Performed: "Two Of Us"

Instagram: @beautyqueenmusic

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

Instagram: @directsupportpod

Twitter: @dswithps

8. Scott Stone (The Jacks) Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

We're back! Happy to be bringing the show back with a real sweet man. Scott Stone, the bassist from The Jacks joins us this week to compare drummers, explain the burden of being the band business boy, and share the experience of being in a band with your best friend since 3rd grade. We cannot ignore that The Jacks are the hottest band of boys I know but Scott recuses himself from the role. We sing our praises of Runnner, Vista Kicks, Harbour, The Hate Drugs and we cover a love for roc docs. Lastly we discuss his experience working with a label and he fills me in on the nature of van pranks with his band. Enjoy!

The Jacks

Song Featured: "Walk Away"

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

Instagram: @directsupportpod

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7. Sky McKee (Super Whatevr) May 26, 2020

Show notes

Sky McKee's a straight up icon. I caught up with the Super Whatevr frontman over Zoom, and we talked about jumping genres from emo to pop, writing about divorce, depression and lost faith, and feeling too big for the local scene but too small for the big leagues. Sky runs us through marketing tips, being "Tiktok" famous and crafting eras of a career. Enjoy!

Super Whatevr

Songs Performed: "better." / "Someone Somewhere Somehow"

"Ellenda" Acoustic Video

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

Instagram: @directsupportpod

Twitter: @dswithps

6. Nick Thomas (The Spill Canvas) May 19, 2020

Show notes

Can you believe it? Nick Thomas of The Spill Canvas joins us for our first virtual call! Nick is so humble, flattering, honest and a delight to talk to. We discuss coping with writing during COVID, mental health, aliens, and the relationship with the term "emo". We also dive into aliens, drug addiction and how humor helps survival, and Nick shares a wild story where Bright Eyes commandeered their show once. Good times. Great fella.

The Spill Canvas

Song Performed: "Parallels and Money"

Song Featured: "Mercy" - All proceeds going to MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

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5. Special Episode: "Ellenda" by Arms Akimbo May 15, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to the first bonus episode of Direct Support! Here, the show changes format as we dive much deeper into a specific song. And what better than to dissect my band's new release "Ellenda". I have in-depth discussions with my three bandmates Chris Kalil, Colin Boppell and Matthew Sutton about different aspects of the song and then I go through it with our producer Brian Rosemeyer as well. Enjoy!

New Arms Akimbo Single: "Ellenda"

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

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4. Andy Warren (The Mowgli's) May 12, 2020

Show notes

Folks! We got a drummer on our hands! Please welcome Andy Warren from The Mowgli's! Andy and I talk about loving nerdy things like movies, improv and comedy. We talk about what it's like to be "the new guy" in a band he's been in for 7 years, how he joined at the perfect time, and he comes to the realization that he's a "professional musician" while we sit and chat. We talk about using art as an outlet in different forms besides music, including his passion for drawing which he turned to in a time of grief, and his interest in writing and improv. Andy also shares the secret of what to put on your rider (surprise, it's Tums). Finally, Andy shares some inspirational stories from songwriting classes he taught, he shuts me down on a Shudder streaming recommendation and we bond about both having worked in children's music (for better or for worse). Lotsa good stuff in here. Enjoy!

The Mowgli's / Split Party / @iandydraws

Song Featured: "Vacation"

New Arms Akimbo Single: "Ellenda"

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

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3. Noah Weinman (Runnner) May 05, 2020

Show notes

Noah Weinman, frontman of the band Runnner joins me for the first episode of the show that was ever recorded...ever! He talks about playing in 10 bands, how writing is a daily habit and gaining the confidence to present your music in a heavy-handed way. He's also the only person I know who writes songs title first and we discuss the importance of song titles in the streaming era, why he sings with a twang and how incredible Bon Iver is. Other topics include the difficulties of choosing a single, approaching songs in the studio versus on a stage, and how jazz taught him how to steal music (tastefully). I also use the opportunity to make him go song-by-song on some of my favorite Runnner tracks and we talk about love and why Noah wishes he believed in God. All this ends in Noah equating poetry to a cat...and then he plays us a song. Enjoy!

Runnner / Skullcrusher

Song Featured: "Ur Name on a Grain of Rice"

Song Performed: "New Sublet" (Unreleased)

Arms Akimbo: Single Release Party

New Single "Ellenda" Pre-Save

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

Instagram: @directsupportpod

Twitter: @dswithps

2. Field Medic Apr 28, 2020

Show notes

Episode 2 with Kevin Patrick Sullivan AKA Field Medic! We talk about the benefits of sobriety, healthy living and not smoking. We also talk about how Kev strives to be Emo Buddha by "keeping it chill". We discuss his different personas, what it takes to date a cougar and balancing silliness and emo-ness in a song. After discussing his exciting rise opening for other bands like The Neighbourhood, Bad Suns, Remo Drive and Beach Bunny, we talk about why he wishes he was a Soundcloud rapper and why he hopes to get his scream back. Finally, we discuss astral projection and he plays us a new song. Wow! Good stuff!

Field Medic

Song Featured: "h-o-u-s-e-k-e-y-z"

Song Performed: "Double Ex-Girlfriend Blues" (Unreleased)

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

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1. Chris Kalil (Arms Akimbo) Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

My bandmate Chris Kalil kicks off the podcast (duh)! We talk about his new solo record "Always Feel the Same", released under the moniker Saint Christopher. We also talk about living together, not being friends at first, the power of encouraging conversations, learning how to play together, losing religion and how that can affect familial relationships, COVID-19, writing differently for different projects, and of course Jimi Hendrix-based conspiracies.

Songs Performed: "Pop Shit" (Arms Akimbo) and "If You Come Home" (Saint Christopher), Both Unreleased.

Arms Akimbo

Saint Christopher

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Email: dswithps@gmail.com

Instagram: @directsupportpod

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